The Portland daily press., 1887-01-14
THE ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.
A Well Attended Meeting Report OF
the Secretary.

The meeting of the Associated Charities
on Wednesday was well attended and inter-
esting. William NJ. Marks was unanimously
elected President in place of Rev. William
B. Hayden, who declined to serve The
Secretary's report was then read and ac-
cepted. The report follows:
sEcRETARY's REPORT.
Mr.. President Ladies and Gentlemen:
While that which we aim to do lifts itself
as yet far above our accomplishment, it is
still with some satisfaction that call your
attention to the work of certain departments
of our association since December LIST.
Thirty-five cases have been presented to
us. some directly, some through individuals,
some by the Provident Society. No other
societies have reported TO us. Fourteen ap-
plications have been made for work and aid
nine for work only, and nine for aid only.
Three were street beggars.
Each case has been carefully and we trust
wisely dealt with by our visitors. Interim
relief, by which term we designate aid given
for immediate necessities during inyestipo-
ton, has been several times needed and is
always readily found. Cases fully inyesti-
gated and referred to benevolent societies
are always cheerfully aided to the extent
their regulations permit, and, when this is
inadequate, 1t Is supplemented more or less
effectually by individual help In all eases
Where IL seems neeutul the visitors care con-
tlnues and endeavors to effect permanent
good.
Our great trial, the difficulty that meets us
at every turn, is the scarcity of the kind of
work that our applicants can do But the
eeffort Is bravely made and not unfrequently
the. visitor succeeds when the applicant
could not. Washing, ironing and Cleaning
IS the work usually found, but this ia far
fewer cases than needed. Plain sewing. il
not lost art, is certainly last resource to
the poor: Cheap sales of machine made
clothing have nearly swept it away But for
the noble efforts of the ladies of the work
room, do not think we could answer a
dozen appeals for sewing. They supply 80
weekly.
In December one of their number fortu-
nate enough 10 possess both the means and
the spirit for benevolent work, gave SO large
donation of material to the workroom and
Christmas Club jointly that its manufacture
into garments for the club furnished a
double portion of work at a time when IL
must nave been most welcome. There are
some excellent SeamstresSeS among the work
women and much of the work is well done.
Ii by reason of their great need some of the
work is given to those who cannot do it very
satisfactorily, the garments are still warm
ana strong and far more serviceable to give
tne poor imam partly worn finer goods. Such
gifts, you see, will not only be twice but
thrice blest, blessing those who give, those
who do the work and those who receive the
garments; what more could charity ask?
am certain that our citizens win continue to
supply the means to carry on this truly BEN
etcent work. The contributions for the
month are as follows:
Mrs. II. NJ. Payson. Material
Mrs. Frank Dudley. 90
MIS- Alfred Woodman. Material
ira r. clark 90
Mrs. H. I. Preble ......., Material and Ss "a
mrs; Dr 6llman- 90
Mrs WiIiiam rha.,a
MIS- William 1naxter.-.. Material
Street begging seems reduced to a mini
mum, three cases only are reported. Two
gave false addresses in the city: not a trace
Of them can be found. The third hailed
from Cape Elizabeth. have sent the name
to MIR. Tilton, who will investigate carefully
and report.
/ have reported the work of your board of
visitors and of the work-room, and am sure
that you will receive both with pleasure.
wish now that | could report the work of the
association itself, its officers, board of direct
ors, &c Your secretary will do what she
brain, once in the work, would be irresistibly
led to the best use of all her powers. But /
cannot be the Associated Charities of Port
lanq. We want an active band of officers
ana directors, and more but not better visit
ors Their united efforts should result in
some permanent good to the unfortunate.
think l do not overstate the matter when
l say that with thinking people who have
given to organized charity the careful consid-
GRAFTON the subject demands, it ranks among
the foremost Of the agencies relied upon TO
counteract some of the dangerous tendencies
of the times. Mr.. Ely, in writing of French
and German socialism, and of the dangerous
doctrines growing from them, and rapidly
spreading in our own country, has nothing
better to offer for opposing forces than the
more practical utterances of the pulpit.
and the philanthropic work of the times,
leading, as it does, just as directly to an en-
larged understanding in those who perform
II as to a better condition Of those who re-
celye its results. And for the encourage
ment OF our visitors let me say Mr.. Ely
makes special mention of the noble work of
noble women" in this direction
But 1t is not work to be left to women.
1t demands also the attention of sagacious,
enterprising, philanthropic men; men of adj
vanced ideas; men who believe in the up
lifting OF humanity, and who are possessed
OF the grand hope and patience needed in
work which for awhile mustI be largely ex-
detrimental. NJ. j. Lilly. Secretary.
A committee was appointed to fill vacan-
cies in the board of directors and to attend
to some other business for the association.
The meeting then adjourned to the first
Thursday in February, at pm.